The Argosy — page 393: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

In a Dangerous Strait. 375 JSaussaires, M. Haviland; our workmen are artists in their way, and our agents belong to a rank of life which places them above suspicion. It happens that we are at present in want of an engraver, the post having become vacant through the—a—temporary retire- ment of one of our confrtres—a retirement which Docquois and I were very near sharing by the way,” he added with a laugh. “It is a brilliant opportunity for you, as we are just now breaking fresh ground, having at length succeeded in imitating the peculiar texture of the Bank of England paper; and that’s the whole story. The work is simple, the remuneration munificent. You accept—yes ?” Gilbert drew a deep breath, and glanced at the master of the house, who, during his friend’s fluent harangue had been standing with his arms folded. He met the young man’s eyes with a sombre smile. ‘‘ Well,” he said, “you do not speak. Are we to understand that you consent ?” ‘You are to understand,” the young Englishman replied, all his nerves thrilling with excitement, “that I would rather cut off my right hand than use it in your service. And now you will allow me to go.” As he turned to leave the room, words from de Fontenay arrested him. ‘The door is locked and the key in my pocket,” he said, deliberately. * Open it, sir, or I will rouse the house ! ” said Gilbert. “You may shout till you are hoarse; no sound will pass the walls of this room,” returned de Fontenay coolly. “It was built to hold. a secret, and nothing that could compromise us has ever escaped it. The grave itself is not more discreet.” Gilbert understood the veiled menace; he felt that he turned pale, but he answered in a tone of contemptuous indifference : “ Your threat does not alarm me, Monsieur de Fontenay; you would scarcely beso mad as to attempt my life, knowing that if I disappeared this house would be the first place searched for me.” ‘It might be searched from garret to basement and no trace of you would be found, were it necessary for our safety that you should ‘disappear.’ See here.” He walked to the statue of Psyche, and drawing out the movable pedestal on which it stood, pressed a concealed spring in the panelled niche. Instantly a door flew open, revealing a cupboard or closet, about the height of a man, but not more than two feet deep, con- trived in the thickness of the wall. Taking up the lamp, he threw its light into the recess, which contained a few papers and a small iron safe ; then he glanced over his shoulder at Gilbert. “Do you understand?” he asked, with the same dark smile. “While the police were searching for you, while pretty Jeanne was lamenting you, while your friends and enemies were putting their own construction on your disappearance, you would be here—safely gagged and bound, and left to suffocate at your leisure.” comicbooks.com